8. V. 02.

Dear Mama! I received a postcard from Manyasha a few days ago with a view of the Volga and greetings. Many thanks to her. I don't know whether you have been receiving all my letters correctly of late? I have had nothing from you except this postcard for quite some time now.

Are you corresponding with E. V., who is now in St. Petersburg and doesn't seem to be very satisfied with it, so much so that she is thinking about returning?

I hope to see you soon, my dear. Only don't let the journey tire you too much. It is absolutely necessary to choose day trains and stop at hotels for the nights. Abroad the hotels are not expensive, and one can have an excellent night's rest. Without rest, given the speed of trains here and the brief stops, it is quite impossible to travel for several days on end.

I shall await news of your departure with impatience. Perhaps you could send a telegram from Russia or from abroad when you board the direct train here? That would be much more convenient.

I wanted to ask you to bring some of the linen I left behind, but now I think it's not worth it: what remained of my things has probably been needed by Mitya and taken by him, and there's no point in buying new things in Russia and bringing them here. But if something remained that is no use to anyone

* A. M. Kalmykova. Ed.

then it would be possible to take it (of course, in small quantity so as not to burden you).

In Germany and Austria I advise you to choose express trains (a small surcharge in 3rd class, but enormous time saving), and draw up the schedule at home by purchasing Hendschel's Telegraph.

Manyasha, for instance, probably knows this guidebook.

I embrace you warmly, my dear, and send greetings to all of ours.

Your V. U.

in the journal

Sent from London to Samara

First published in 1929

"Proletarskaya Revolyutsiya" No. 11

Printed from the manuscript